GUOZHUANG: DANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF TIBETAN WOMEN IN THE DANBA AREA, CHANGDU, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Abstract

            This paper explores the origins and characteristics of the Guozhuang dance among Tibetan women in Danba and Chamdo. Focusing on the Guozhuang dances of these two regions, the study analyzes them from the perspectives of dance morphology and cultural anthropology through fieldwork and literature review.

            The research reveals that the Guozhuang dances of the two regions share a common origin but diverge in development: both originated from primitive sacrificial rituals and agricultural labor. Danba Guozhuang was influenced by the Jiarong agricultural civilization and deeply intertwined with agricultural seasons, while Chamdo Guozhuang relied on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, integrating nomadic and commercial cultures.

            In terms of dance characteristics, both regions share the core rhythm of “bending before moving, with trembling within the bend” and the paradigm of dancing in a circle, while also exhibiting distinct regional differences. This study clarifies the origins and characteristics of the Guozhuang dances in these two regions, highlighting the central role of women in their transmission, and providing theoretical reference for intangible cultural heritage protection and dance teaching.